So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus: why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands? — the question is directed at Jesus, holding him responsible for his disciples' practice. Why don't your disciples... positions this as a question of discipleship formation: what is Jesus teaching them? The tradition of the elders is elevated as the standard against which the disciples' behavior is measured. The question implies that a genuine teacher of Israel would enforce the traditional purity practices on his followers.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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